Hydroturbine pump



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HYDRO-TURBINE PUMP Filed Jan. 25, 1941 9 Sheets-Sheet Q rroawsys Patented Dec. 5, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HYDROTURBINE PUMP Irving 0. Jennings, South Norwalk, Conn.

Application January 25, 1941, Serial No. 375,995

36 Claims.

This invention is directed to fluid piston pumps or compressors, and more particularly to hydroturbine pumps of the type employing a rotating water or other liquid ring as a pumping or displacing medium, in which the liquid of the ring alternately enters and recedes from a series of displacement chambers formed as peripheral buckets in a rotor revolving within a lobe casing. The rotor may be circular, and the casing eccentrio in contour, or if the lobe casing is circular, the rotor may be eccentrically disposed therein.

In such structures liquid is placed in the lobe casing and the rotor is driven at high speed.

.The liquid in the casing will travel around with the rotor and by centrifugal action will follow the outline of the lobe or interior of the casing. It is by this arrangement'that the liquid is forced into and out of the displacement chambers as the rotor turns. Suitable ports are provided so that the piston action of the liquid thus obtained can be utilized for pumping purposes, as by exhausting or compressing a fluid.

More particularly the invention relates to im provements in hydro-turbine pumps or compressors of the well-known Nash type, for which several patents have been issued heretofore, the patents to Jennings 1,718,294, of June 25,1929, and Nash 953,222, of March 29, 1910, being exemplary.

Heretofore, one of the biggest losses in efficiency, in compressors of this general type, has resulted from the hydraulic friction of the liquid in the casing or lobe of the pump or compressor, this friction occurring at the sides as well as the periphery of the lobe. Accordingly, it is one of the primary objects of the present invention to eliminate so far as is possible, all of this friction. Another object is to effect a large saving in the horsepower normally required for pump operation, by elimination of hydraulic friction.

The problems created by hydraulic friction are in themselves not new ones. The Nash patent supra took cognizance of lossesby hydraulic friction at high speeds, and suggested broadly a principle by means of which such losses could be reduced. In that patent, instead of using a stationary lobe or lobe casing in which the rotor revolved, the patentee applied a'positive drive to rotate the lobe of the pump, and in turn caused the lobe to drive the rotor by an interconnecting means, the rotor turning eccentrically with re spect to the lobe.

But the work of compressing, in a liquid piston compressor, is effected by the rotor accelerating the liquid out of and into the rotating buckets or displacement chambers, and as a further object, this invention contemplates a direct drive for the rotor, in which the bulk of applied power is supplied direct to th rotor shaft, without the interposition of a driven lobe casing or other element.

Since it takes relatively little horsepower to impeller is driven by the lobe, and represents one of the improvements thereupon. An advantage in this arrangement resides in the fact that the gear or the friction of theliquid ring transmit relatively little horespower in driving the lobe, and a structure embodying one or the other of these features is practical even though the gears run in the liquid.

It is contemplated, as an object of the invention, that the lobe may have its own direct drive, but this will not be at the sacrifice of the rotor drive.

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects which will appear as the description proceeds reference may be made to the accompanying' drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a compres-- sor of the type utilizing one cone port member;

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view illustrating the independent driving means. i

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;-

Fig. 3.is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line t4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through a compressor of the type utilizing double porting, taken on the line 55 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a different vertical section through the structure of Figures 5 and 6, taken on the line 7-1 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line t8 of Fig. '7; 1

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary, irregular section taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is an elevation to smaller scale of a detail shown in Figures 5 and 7.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section through a modified construction of Fig. 5, utilizing double porting.

Fig. 12 is a section through the interior there- .of taken on the line |2|2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is an irregular, generally horizontal section of another construction in which two revolving lobes are utilized in a horizontally split casing, taken on the line l3--l3 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section taken on the line l4--l4 of Fig. 13; and

Fig. 15 is a vertical section, taken on the line I5l5 of Fig. 13.

In the following description several embodi' ments of the invention are discussed, but all forms employ one basic principle which is in itself unique, viz., the idea of driving the rotor direct, in a more or lemv conventional manner, and of causing the lobe of the pump to be rotated by, or assisted in its rotation by the pump rotor. As pointed out, this may be either frictionally from the rotating liquid piston, or from a gearing arrangement to the rotor, or rotor drive, or by an independent drive... assisted. by the rotor movements.

In other word the power is applied direct to the r t r, which in. turn. drives the lobe, there bein n requirement for drivin the rotor from he lobe, a though. as mdicated it is within the scop or t present inv ntion to drive the lobe independen y or the rot r. while. employin the. principles of h s invention.

Als the herein disclosed embodiments f the invention provide. for utilization of the custorm ary porting arrangem nts for control of the inlot and outlet of the, medium which is bein pumped.

Refe rin now more particular y t t e drawines wherein like reference num r ls desi na like parts. attention s fir t directed to Fi s. 1. 2. 3 and 4,, which illustrate a form of the invention wherein but one cone 01. port member is used. This embodiment well i lustrates the. present. invention, the. structure thereof; comprising an outside. stationary casing .20. within which is mounted a single circular lobe or lobe casing 21. The rotor or impeller 22, operable within the lobe 2 l. is provided with a conical hub portion 23 which is rotatable about and co-operates with a ported cone or cylinder 24.

The rotor 22 is mounted eccentrically to the obe and is secured to a rotor drive shaft 25, by means of which the rotor may be driven from any suitable source or power. Suitable anti fric tion bearin s 26-26 function to support the drive shaft 25. The lobe is mounted on its own shaft 2; wzhsich is supported byand turns in bearings The rotor 22. is. provided with vanes 29 formthe chambers 30 to produce the normal hydroturbine effect well understood in the art.

At the time of starting, suitable seal liquid such as water is introduced under moderate pressure through the passages 36 and 39. This water flows around the shaft 25 and is injected into the lobe near the inlet through the orifice 31, such introduction of sealing liquid being the same as is conventionally accomplished in standard Nash type cone pumps as exemplified by the patcut to Adams, No. 1,847,586, of March 1, 1932.

By making the orifice sufficiently large, and limiting the amount of water flowing into passage 36, it is possible to control the pressure such that only a moderate pressure will be built up along the shaft 25. Water will surround the shaft and the mechanical seal 35 therefor, and will be vented through another orifice 38, which latter orifice is connected to the fluid inlet chamber of the pump. The'purpose of this arrangement is o ensure cooling of the seal 35.

Having started up the pump. as the liquid ring begins to revolve in the lobe casing, due to the rotary motion Of the rotor 22, the friction or drag of the liquid causes the lobe 2| to turn with it, greatly reducing relative velocity between the liquid and the moving lobe, Revolving this lobe then, not only eliminates the friction between the liquid and the lobe casing, but permits the liquid to go around more freely in the casing to perform its pumping function. It follows that the capacity for a iven, depth of lobe is considerably increased in this construction over what would be the situation if the lobe were stationary.

Furthermore, the lob in this embodiment beg a ylinder, is easy to machine, and as the land is continua-11y turning. and there is very sli ht relative velocity between the liquid and the Ca ing, erosion is practically eliminated.

Du g operation, the liquid which leaks past the sides of the rotor will escape around the hub of the revolving lobe, will be thrown off. from the lip 40, and will pass into the inlet passage of the pump through the port 4| (Figs. 1 and 3), SO that. it may be drawn along with incoming fluids to be returned to the lobe. If any moisture should accumulate in the outer casing 20, it will flow past the check valve 42, continuously if the unit is used as a compressor and intermittently when the power is stopped, if it is used as a vacuum pump.

Liquid which works past the rotating lobe and the rotor into the space 43 is relieved through the passages 44 and 45, and mixes with the incoming seal liquid. As previously described, the incoming seal liquid has been introduced through the passages 36 and 39 and around the mechanical seal 35, passing through th orifice 31 which is connected to the pump inlet, surplus going through the orifice 38, thus preventing any excess pressures from being developed on the seal, but assuring that the seal is kept cool.

A drain 46 is provided between seals to permit escape of any seepage which may get by the first or inner mechanical seal, rather than allowing such seepage to work into the ball bearing 26.

Passages 41 may be provided across the revolving lob for the purpose of hydraulically balancing the liquid pressure on each side of the lobe, these passages extending radially inward as indicated at 48, thereby affording communication from side to side.

Reinforcing ribs 49 may be provided to stiffen the housing of the. ball bearings which support the rotating lobe, and stiffening rib 50 and 5| may also be provided in the cone passages (Fig. 2) in the region of the outlet and inlet ports. These latter ribs 50-5| are below the level of th cone and the rotor common surface, such that they do not restrict incoming fluid. Additional stiffening ribs 52 and 53 may be :placed internally of the stationary casing 20 to further stiffen the structure.

The operating characteristics of this pump include very low horsepower at all pressures and this horsepower increases only slightly when the pump is running at high speed, which of course is a great advantage, as it provides flexibility in capacity and ability to obtain high and low pressures efliciently.

The operation of this embodiment of the invention is believed clear from the foregoing, it being reiterated that the only applied power, is that utilized to drive the rotor or impeller through the shaft 25, the hydraulic friction of the liquid ring during the rotation thereof by the rotor, carrying the rotatable lobe around after the rotor. Of course the lobe could be positively driven by a separate means, such as a stub shaft 54, indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 1, simply by removing th cap 55 over the bearing 28, and extending the trunnion 56 of the lobe shaft 21 to form the stub shaft 54. Such a construction is shown in Fig. 1 wherein 5 indicates an elec tric motor and 55 a flexible coupling.

A major problem in designing a rotating lobe structure is that of providing a unit whichwill stand up in service and at the same time, not be so complicated as to make its cost prohibitive. With a single lobe, single port cylinder type of structure, it is also difficult to prevent the lobe and the rotor from being pushed into contact with each other by the unbalanced pressures involved, thus creating a condition causing wear and interfering with the proper operation of the unit. Further, in a structure using but a single port member and a half rotor, the pumping capacity perforce will be relatively small.

clearances therebetween, at locations remote from the point of greatest bearing pressure, whereupon the liquid can be carried around in the bearing by the well-known squeeze action which occurs in close-fitting bearings, this liquid ac tually' supporting the revolving part, keeping it out of contact with the fixed bearing surface, and reducing the friction. The liquid is initially introduced through a pipe H (Fig. 7) into the center of the rotor 62 at a relatively low pressure, preferably in the neighborhood of two or three pounds, one portion of the liquid passing through the conduits or passages 1.0 to act as a lubricant, and another portion passing through the orifices 12-42 to supply the rotor with sealing liquid.-

Additional liquid under higher pressure, preferably equal to the discharge pressure of the apparatus, may be introduced through the pipe 13 for seal purposes all around the hubs of the rotor, a portion of this liquid being also forced through the orifices M into the crescent-shaped space between the rotor sides and the revolving lobe.

For a more detailed description of methods of sealing running clearances, along shafting, and elsewhere in pump structures of the type herein disclosed, reference may be made to the patent to Jennings 2,195,174, of March 26, 1940. Since, seals, both mechanical and liquid, as mentioned herein, in connection with the various embodiments of this invention, are now standard, no

. further detailed description is necessary.

These problems and difficulties can be eliminated however, by carrying the inventive concept of the embodiment heretofore described into a structure of the type illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive, wherein two [port cylinders or cones are used and the shaft supporting the rotor is held in position by bearings relatively close to the center of the rotor.

In these figures, the outer stationary casing 66 houses the rotatabl lobe 6|, within which is positioned the rotor or impeller 62. The rotor 62 is conventionally formed with buckets or displacement chambers formed by the usual impeller vanes, and ported at their bases, in the manner heretofore described, for co-operation with the port members 63 and 64.

The .rotor 62 is mounted on its drive shaft 65, which runs in bearings 66-66. The lobe 6| revolves on journals 61-61 formed as cylindrical portions of the respective port cones, on each side of the lobe, thus rigidly supporting the lobe. A preferred construction is illustrated, wherein non-metallic bearing rings 68-68 of Bakelite, or other suitable material, are secured in the lobe to form bearing surfaces, and in which the cylindrical portions or journals 61--6'l are provided with hardened surfaces Bil-69 to form co-operative bearing surfaces upon which the rings 68-68 may travel.

Clean liquid is introduced through the passages ID-J0 at points adjacent the running clearance of the bearings 68 and 69 and into the running The bushings or non-metallic bearing rings 68 have a running clearance with the sides of the rotor, and should the rotor tend to move nearer one side than the other, the pressure developed by the liquid entering the orifice 14 on that side will be higher because it can not leak along the side of the rotor between the ring and the rotor.

This will tend to push the rotor back towards the other side, allowing this liquid to escape, and centralizing the rotor. As the fresh liquid entering through pipe H is at low pressure, due to venting through the orifices l2, no difficulty will be experienced in sealing it off from the bearings 66.

There is illustrated in Fig. 9, a preferred method of sealing the shaft 65, wherein seals 15, and a slinger 11, preferably made of a rubber-like substance, are positioned about the shaft. If any liquid traveling along the shaft leaks by the first seal 15, it will vent into the passage 18, and escape through the drain hole 19 in the annular plate-like member 86. Should any seepage pass both of the seals 15 and I6, it will be stopped by the rubber-like ring or slinger H, which revolves with the shaft, and this seepage liquid will drip or drain out through the passage 6|, along the side of the pump. When this occurs it is an indication that the seals 15 and 16 should be renewed.

Leakage from a journal 6'! will be caught by the centrifugal action of the revolving lobe 6|, and thrown off from the lip or projection 82, this lip 82 functioning similarly to the lip previously described. Such leakage will be trapped in the space between the annular member or plate 86 and the casing, and then will drain through the opening 16 in the outside stationary casing, from which it can pass to waste through the drain pipe 83. It will be noted that ample space is provideclin the outer stationary casing around the entrance to-the drain 83 such that the lobe 61 at all times revolves in air, and is not subjected to hydraulic friction.

The annular plate member is constructed with a lip 82; the purpose-of which is to catch any .drippings from the top of the structure and to prevent such drippings from getting on the rotor, with some loss inhorsepower. The plate 80 is desirably pressed out from sheet metal, and then, by cutting through a, portion of this plate and pressing it out. the orifice I9 is formed. That portion of the plate which is flattened out adjacent the orifice or opening 18 functions as an additional lip 93 (Fig. to prevent drainage water from reaching the revolving lobe.

When apump is of the double or two-cone port member construction, it is advantageous to provide one or more dams in the lobe to prevent surging of the liquid piston, and heretofore this has been accomplished by building in a fixed plate, usually centrally located. A fixed plate cannot be used satisfactorily in the lobe of the present embodiment, since the lobe is revolving, and constantly changing its position with reference to the rotor. The problem is solved herein by introducing a ring member 84 (Figs. 5, 7 and 10), which ring fits the lobe and slides in the rotor. The ring may be of one solid piece, and the rotor split as indicated in Fig. 7, or the ring may be split in two sections as shown in Fig. 10, and applied to a continuous rotor as illustrated in Fig. 5. This latter construction, utilizing a split ring. is preferable in that it permits of pressing the rotor on the shaft, and subsequently inserting the ring parts, and inasmuch as the ring is circular and fits the revolving lobe, it cannot be displaced. Preferably this ring will be made Bakelite or equivalent material which is nonfrictional in the presence of liquid.

, The relief of pressure in hydraulically balancing the rotor sidewise in the revolving lobe does not present, in the double ported construction, the same problem as discussed in connection with Figures 1 to 4, and does not require the provision of passages from one side of the lobe to the other as described above. Hydraulic balance in the in stant embodiment is taken care of by the orifices I4 and pressure of liquid in the running clearances at the sides of the rotor as heretofore described. However, for the sake of reducing the weight of the revolving lobe, passages or chambers 85 may be formed in the revolvable lobe casing.

It will be understood of course that the stationary casing 60 and the port cone members are conventionally provided with suitable inlet and outlet ports and passages, the main inlet being indicated at 86, and the outlet at 81; the liquid inlet to the port cone being further indicated at 88. A passageway 89 is provided to connect the two heads of the stationary casing, and a lug 90 extending across this passage permits bolting as by means of the bolts 9 I.

The operation of this form of the invention is, so far as the novel principles are concerned, the same as that of the first described embodiment, via, the rotor 62 is driven by its shaft 65, and in rotating, turns the liquid ring centrifugally within the lobe. Hydraulic friction tends to rotate or revolve the lobe, just as heretofore described.

The dam or ring 84 accommodates itself to the constantly changing, relative positions of the rotor and lobe to prevent liquid surging.

An interesting variation in the method of operating a pump or compressor as heretofore described, as well as in the use to which such a structure might be put, is well illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. In this form, the outer stationary casing 95 serves to house the rotatable lobe or lobe casing 96 within which operates the rotor 91. The conventional operating features such as displacement chambers, ports, inlet and outlet passages are all the same as heretofore described, and need no detailed description at this point. The lobe 96 is formed as a split casing, the sections of which are bolted together as indicated at 98, each section being formed with bearing flanges 99 which travel on the cylindrical journals or bearing surfaces I00 formed in the port cones, and it will be noted that in this construction each port cone 94 includes as a part of its integral organization a casing head or cap IOI. With this arrangement, and the fact that the main casing heads I02 are separable, the construction is well adapted to adjust the clearance between the rotor and port; members and provides ease of assemblage and disassemblage. By merely removing a few bolts, the entire pump including stationary outer casing, rotatable lobe, port members and rotor can be dismantled very easily.

The dam or baflle I03 which prevents surging in the lobe is arranged as a center partition in the rotor, and its wall is projected to extend peripherally into a central annular slot I04 in the lobe.

The periphery of the dam may be formed with gear teeth I05 adapted to mesh with gear teeth I06 provided in the base of the slot I04. This arrangement will permit the rotor to drive the lobe through its rotary movement, should same be found desirable. The horsepower required to drive the lobe from the rotor is a very small por tion of ,the load, and any simple form of drive is feasible in this location, But it is to be emphasized that here again the direct application of power is to the rotor I03 through its drive shaft I01, the rotor being the element which does the main work in the apparatus.

It will be noted that lubricating or sealing grooves, ported where necessary, are provided for, and are in communication with every bearing surface or clearance space between moving parts. Thus the journals I 00 have their grooves I08; those portions of the stationary casing which engage the rotating lobe are provided with ported grooves I09 extending adjacent the lobe bearing flanges; grooves IIO will be found between the clearance surfaces of the rotor 91 where the rotor is journaled on the port cone. This construction is one which is particularly desirable in the event that oil or suitable lubricating material is used as the displacing liquid in lieu of the customary water ring, and this oil or lubricating fluid piston may be used under pressure not only to lubricate the internal bearings of the pump, but to function in the provision of seals as well.

A drain port III maybe provided in the inlet passage for any liquid that might escape between the rotating lobe and the port cone. A groove H2 is provided to form a liquid seal against air or gas leaks along the cone, this groove being supplied with liquid by a port II3 connected to the seal supply assage I I3-A.

While this application of the invention is somewhat limited to special seals, which may be applied as taught in the Patent 2,195,174 aforesaid, it finds a very interesting utilization in refrigeration, or in other systems where a simple construction is required, and where oil or other lubricative fluid is not objectionable.

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 illustrate two revolving lobes, supported by bearings between the lobes, arranged in a horizontally'split, stationary outer casing.

The. bearings in this location have the advantage of being remote from the liquid used in the pump, and therefore do not require elaborate seals to protect them, as may be the case when ball bearings or other anti-friction bearings are used in the presence of any liquid. A further advantage obtained in this construction is that the out-of-balance hydraulic forces present in a single lobe can be alleviated by the use of two lobes suitably disposed, even though thelongitudinal separation of the two lobes might tend to produce a crank effect. In this embodiment the stationary outer casing H is provided with an inlet I I6 communicating with an inlet passage Ill and an outlet passage H8 communicating with the outlet I l9.

The drive shaft I carries a pair of rotors I2 I, I22 which are journaled as heretofore on port cones I23 and I24 respectively. The rotatable lobes I25 and I26 are similarly journaled on the cylindrical portions I21 and I28 of the port members, and are connected to each other by a central spider or connecting member I29 for unitary movement. The rotors I2l and I22, being secured to the same shaft I20, move in unison, and the lobes should do likewise, hence the connection between the two. Inner roller bearings I30 are provided for the central connecting member I29, and adjusting wedges I3l are arranged to adjust these inner roller bearings, and to position the two revolving lobes in the casing.

A drain I32 is provided for any liquid which travels along the revolving lobe, this drain being connected into the main inlet passage I33. Appropriate seal grooves such as that indicated at I34 will of course be provided as heretofore, these grooves functioning not only to provide a seal between the rotatable lobe and the casing but also to allow room for dirt to escape rather than to jam in the close clearances at these points.

The general operation of this structure is based on the principles heretofore described, wherein the rotor is driven, and the liquid ring being impelled by the rotor tends to produce a rotary motion in the lobes. The lobes being spaced from each other as shown, permitlocation of the bearings away from any liquid used in the pump, thereby minimizing the requirements for seals throughout the structure. Suitable disposition of the lobes alleviates the hydraulic forces tend ing to unbalance the pump, and the connection of the lobes to each other through the central member avoids problems which might arise in the case of a single port or single lobe type of structure.

The advantages presented by all forms of the invention heretofore described are readily apparent. Hydraulic friction resulting in loss of efficiency is substantially eliminated, thus effecting a large saving in horsepower.

Machining of parts is simplified, in that cylindrical constructions can be used throughout.

Since the land of the lobe is continuously turning with very slight relative velocity between the liquid ring of the pump and the lobe casing, erosion is practically eliminated. Operating characteristics of a pump involving these principles are very low horsepower at all pressures, which horsepower increases but very slightly when a pump is run at high speeds, the entire organization being highly flexible in capacity, and ability to obtain high and low pressures efiiciently. The idea of driving the rotor, and then permitting the lobe to follow the rotor, or be driven from the liquid ring, or even from the rotor while maintaining a balance as described above, is

unique, particularly in its application to, and combination with the basic hydro-turbine principles of the well-known Nash type of pump, this combination being a major contributing factor to these advantages.

It is noteworthy that the hydro-turbine features of structure are retained, i. e., the hereindescribed structures utilize the principle of a rotor co-operating with valve ports, preferably in an arrangement having port cones upon which the ported rotor is journaled, but wherein the lobe casing is driven by the rotor, either directly or indirectly.

In describing the invention, reference has been made heretofore to the use of the structure as a pump or compressor. This has been purely for illustrative purposes, and it is not intended that the invention should be limited to such uses, other than as defined in the appended claims. This rotary lobe structure could be operated in reverse as an engine rather than as a compressor, in which case compressed air or steam would be introduced at the present outlet and exhausted from the inlet, power being taken off the shaft.

Having thus fully described my invention,what

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters pumping action, the combination of a rotor with displacement chambers cooperating with suitable inlet and outlet ports, a rotatable lobe eccentric to and closely fitting said rotor on the sides, means to drive said rotor, means independent of said rotor to rotate said lobe, and means interposed between said rotor and lobe to apply a turning movement to said lobe from said rotor.

3. In a pump of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a rotor with displacement chambers cooperating with suitable inlet and outlet ports, a rotatable lobe eccentric to and closely fitting aid rotor on the sides, means to drive said rotor, means independent of said rotor to rotate said lobe, and means interposed between said rotor and lobe to apply a turning movement to said lobe from said rotor, comprising a liquid piston interposed between said rotor and lobe.

4. In a hydro-turbine pump of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a rotatable lobe, a fixed port member extending therein, a ported rotor cooperative with said port member and Journaled for rotary movement in said lobe about said port member, means to drive said rotor within said lobe, and means, comprising a mechanical driving connection between said rotor and said lobe, to rotate said lobe from said rotor.

5. In a hydro-turbine pump of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a rotatable lobe, a fixed port member extending therein, 'a ported rotor cooperative with said port member and journaled for rotary movement in said lobe about said port member, means to drive said rotor within said lobe, and means, comprising a driving connection and a liquid ring interposed between said rotor and said lobe, to rotate said lobe from said rotor.

: 6. In a hydro-turbine pump of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a rotatable lobe, a fixed port member extending therein having inlet and outlet connections, a ported rotor cooperative with said port member and journaled for rotary movement in said lobe about said port member, means to drive said rotor within said lobe, means to rotate said lobe from said rotor, and additional means independent of said rotor to rotate said lobe.

7. In a hydro-turbine pump of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a rotatable lobe, a plurality of fixed port members extending therein, a ported rotor cooperative with said port members and journaled for rotary movement in said lobe, means to drive said rotor within said lobe, means to rotate said lobe from said rotor, and means to restrict surging of the pumping liquid in said lobe.

8. In a hydro-turbine pump of the type using liquidfor its pumping action, the combination of a rotatable lobe, a plurality of fixed port members extending therein, a ported rotor cooperative with said port members and journaled for rotary movement in said lobe, means to drive said rotor within said lobe, means comprising a liquid piston interposed between said rotor and lobe to rotate said lobe from said rotor, and means to restrain said liquid piston against surging in the lobe.

9. In a hydro-turbine pump of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a rotatable lobe, a plurality of fixed port members extending therein, a ported rotor cooperative with said port members and journaled for rotary movement in said lobe, means to drive said rotor within said lobe, means comprising a liquid piston interposed between said rotor and lobe to rotate said lobe from said rotor, and means to restrain said liquid piston against surging in the lobe, comprising a dam in said lobe mounted for relative sliding movement radially of said rotor.

10. In a hydro-turbine pump'of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a rotatable lobe, a plurality of fixed port members extending therein, a' ported rotor cooperative with said port members and journaled for rotary movement in said lobe, means to drive said rotor within said lobe, means comprising a liquid piston interposed between said rotor and lobe to rotate said lobe from said rotor, and means to restrain said liquid piston against surging in the lobe, comprising a substantially fiat partition wall mounted substantially centrally of said lobe, said rotor having a substantially central slot to accommodate and support said wall, said wall being proportioned to substantially fit the interior of said lobe and arranged for relatively sliding movement radially in said slot.

11. In a hydro-turbine pump of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a rotatable lobe, a plurality of fixed port members extending therein, a ported rotor cooperative with said port members and journaled for rotary movement in said lobe, means to drive said rotor within said lobe, means to restrict surging of the pumping liquid in said lobe, comprising a radially extending dam carried bysaid rotor, and means to rotate said lobe from said rotor.

12. In a hydro-turbin pump of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a rotatable lobe, a plurality of fixed port members extending therein, a ported rotor cooperative with said port members and journaled for rotary movement in said lobe, means to drive said rotor within said lobe, means to restrict surging 'of the pumping liquid 'in' said lobe comprising 'a radially extending dam carried by said rotor, and means to rotate said lobe from said rotor, comprising gear teeth disposed on the periphery of said dam, and gear teeth positioned on the interior of said lob to mesh with said first gear teeth.

13. In a hydro-turbine pump of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a rotatable lobe casing, port members extending therein, a ported rotor cooperative with said ported members and journaled for rotary movement in said casing, means to drive said rotor within said casing, means to restrict surging of the pumping liquid in said casing, comprising a radially extending dam carried by said rotor, said casing being circumferentially split intermediate its ends, and grooved adjacent the split to slid- .ingly receive the edge of said dam, and means to rotate said casing from said rotor.

14. In a hydro-turbine pump of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a rotatable lobe casing, port members extending therein, a ported rotor cooperative with said ported members and journaled for rotary movement in said casing, means to drive said rotor within said casing, means to restrict surging of the pumping liquid in said casing, comprising a radially extending dam carried by said rotor, said casing being circumferentially split intermediate its ends, and grooved adjacent the split to slidingly receive the edge of said dam, and means to rotate said casing from said rotor, comprising gear teeth in the root of the slot and cooperating gear teeth peripherallyflisposed along the edge of said dam.

15. In a pump of the type using liquid for its umping action, the combination of a stationary frame, a lobe casing therein, said casing having a centrally disposed shaft projecting from one side thereof, bearings in said frame located externally thereof and of said lobe casing for rotatably supporting said shaft, a port member rigid with said frame and extending into said lobe casing, a ported rotor cooperative with said port member and journaled thereon for rotary movement in said casing, means to drive said rotor, and means to rotate said lobe casing from said rotor.

16. In a pump of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a stationary frame, a lobe casing therein, said casing having a centrally disposed shaft projecting from on side thereof, bearings in said frame located externally thereof and of said lobe casing for rotatably supporting said shaft, a port member rigid with said frame and extending into said lobe casing, a ported rotor cooperative with said port member and journaled thereon for rotary movement in said casing, means to drive said rptor, means to rotate said lobe casing from said rotor, and

means including said centrally disposed shaft for independently driving said casing.

17. In a hydro-turbine pump of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a rotatable lobe, a. fixed port member extending therein, a ported rotor cooperative with said port member and journaled for rotary movement in said lobe, a second rotatable lobe spaced from said first lobe, a fixed port member extending therein, a ported rotor cooperative with said port member and journaled for rotary movement in said second lobe, common means to drive said rotors within the respective lobes, and means to rotate said lobes from the respective rotors about their port members.

18. In a hydro-turbine pump of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a supporting frame, a plurality of pumping units in said frame each comprising a rotatable lobe, a fixed port member extending therein, and a ported rotor cooperative with said port member, and journaled for rotary movement in its lobe, means connecting adjacent lobes in predetermined spaced relation for unitary action, common means to drive the rotors within the respective lobes, and means to rotate said lobes from the respective rotors.

19. In a hydro-turbine pump of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a supporting frame, a plurality of pumping units in said frame each comprising a' rotatable lobe, a fixed port member extending therein, and a ported rotor cooperative with said port member, and journaled for rotary movement in its .lobe, means connecting adjacent lobes in predetermined spaced relation for unitary action, bearing means for the rotatabl lobes in said connecting means, meansto drive the rotors within the respective lobes, and means to rotate said lobes from the respective rotors.

20. In a hydro-turbine pump of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a supporting frame, a plurality of pumping units in said frame each comprising a rotatable lobe, a fixed port member extending therein, and a ported rotor cooperative with said port member, and journaled for rotary movement in its lobe, means connecting adjacent lobes in predetermined spaced relation for unitary action, means in said connecting means to adjust the positions of the lobes, means to drive the rotors within the respective lobes, and means to rotate said lobes from the respective rotors.

21. In a hydro-turbine pump of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a supporting frame, a plurality of pumping units in said frame each comprising a rotatable lobe, a fixed port member extending therein, and a ported rotor cooperative with said port member, and journaled for rotary movement, in its lobe, means connecting adjacent lobes in predetermined spaced relation for unitary action, bearing means for the rotatable lobes in said connecting means, and means in said connecting means to adjust the bearing means and the positions of the lobes, means to drive the rotors within the respective lobes, and means to rotate said lobes from the respective rotors.

22. In a hydro-turbine pump of the type using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a stationary supporting frame, web means dividing said frame into a plurality of stationary chambers, a pumping unit located within each of said chambers, each unit comprising a rotatable lobe casing, a fixed port member extending therein, and a ported rotor cooperative with said port member and journaled for rotary movement in its lobe casing, adjustable bearing means in said web means for rotatably supporting adjacent lobe casings, common means for driving the rotors in their respective lobe casings, and means to rotate said lobes from the respective rotors.

23. In a pump of the type using liquid for its displacement action, the combination of a rotatable lobe, a ported rotor cooperating with a plurality of fixed inlet and outlet ports and journaled for rotary movement in said lobe, means to drive said rotor within said lobe, means to rotate said lobe from said rotor, and means to restrict surging of the pumping liquid in said lobe.

24. In a pump of the type using liquid for its displacement action, the combination of a rotatable lobe, a ported rotor cooperating with a plurality of fixed inlet and outlet ports and journaled for rotary movement in said lobe, means to drive said rotor within said lobe, means comprising a liquid piston interposed between said rotor, and means to restrict said liquid piston against surging in the lobe.

25. In a pump of the type using liquid for its displacement action, the combination of a rotatable lobe, a ported rotor cooperating with a plurality of fixed inlet and outlet ports and journaled for rotary movement in said lobe, means to drive said rotor within said lobe, means comprising a liquid piston interposed between said rotor and said lobe to rotate said lobe from said rotor, and means to restrict said liquid piston against; surging in the lobe comprising one or more dams in said lobe mounted for relative sliding movement radially in said rotor.

26. In an expansible chamber structure, the combination of a rotatable lobe, a rotor mounted for rotary movement with close running side clearance therein, means including a liquid piston to drive said rotor, means to rotate said lobe freely from said rotor, and means to take off power from said driven rotor.

.27. In an expansible chamber structure, the combination of a rotatable lobe, arotor mounted for rotary movement with close running side clearance therein, means to drive said rotor, means to rotate said lobe freely from said rotor comprising a liquid piston interposed between said impeller and lobe, and means totake off power from said rotor.

28. In an engine of the type which depends for its action on a liquid displaced by air or gas, the combination of a rotatable lobe, a ported rotor cooperating with fixed inlet and outlet ports and journaled for rotary movement with close running side clearance in said lobe, means to drive said rotor within said lobe, means to rotate said lobe from said rotor, and means to take off power from said rotor.

29. In an air or gas pump or engine using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a rotor, with displacement chambers cooperating with inlet and outlet ports, the rotor closely fitting the sides of a surrounding casing, said casing rotating freely eccentrically to said rotor but adjacent to the rotor at one point of its periphery, with means to remove and conduct away the excess liquid issuing from the revolving casing, so that said revolving casing is free from outside hydraulic friction.

30. In a pump using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a rotor, with displacement chambers cooperating with inlet and outlet ports, the rotor closely fitting the sides of a surrounding casing, said casing rotating freely eccentrically to said rotor but adjacent to the rotor at one point of its periphery, meansto introduce sealing liquid into the rotor, with separate means to remove and conduct away the excess sealing liquid which escapes from between the side of the rotor and the revolving casing, so that the revolving casing is free from outside hydraulic friction.

ment chambers cooperating with inlet and outlet ports, the rotor closely fitting the sides of a surrounding casing, said casing rotating freely eccentrically to said rotor but adjacent to the rotor at one point of its periphery, with means to remove and conduct away the excess liquid issuing from the revolving casing through the journal on which the casing revolves so as to act as a lubricant for said revolving casing.

32. In a pump using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a rotor, with displacement chambers cooperating with inlet and outlet ports, the rotor closely fitting the sides of a surrounding casing, said casing rotating freely eccentrically to said rotor but adjacent to the rotor at one point of its periphery, with means to remove and conduct away the excess liquid issuing from the revolving casing through the journal on which the casing revolves, so as to act as a lubricant for said revolving casing, with means to prevent the said liquid from coming incontact with the revolving casing except at the hub of said casing.

33. In an air or gas pump or engine using liquid for its pumping action, the combination of a rotor with side shrouds and with displacement chambers cooperating with inlet and outlet ports, the rotor closely fitting the sides of a surrounding casing, said casing rotating freely eccentrically to said rotor but adjacent to the rotor at one point of its periphery, with means i to hydraulically balance the rotor sideways in said casing.

34. In an air or gas engine using liquid for its driving action, the combination of a rotor, with displacement chambers cooperating with inlet and outlet ports, the rotor closely fitting the sides of a surrounding casing, said casing rotating freely eccentrically to said rotor but adjacent to the rotor at one point of its periphery, means to introduce sealing liquid into the rotor, with separate means to remove and conduct away the excess sealing liquid which escapes from between the side of the rotor and the revolving casing, so that the revolving casing is free from outside hydraulic friction.

35. in an air or gas engine using liquid for its driving action, the combination of a rotor, with displacement chambers cooperating with inlet and outlet ports, the rotor closely fitting the sides of a surrounding casing, said casing rotating freely eccentrically to said rotor but adjacent to the rotor at one oint of its periphery, with means to remove and conduct away the excess liquid issuing from the revolving casing through the journal on which the casing revolves, so as to act as a lubricant for said revolving casing.

36. In an air or gas engine using liquid for its driving action, the combination of a rotor, with displacement chambers cooperating with inlet and Outlet ports, the rotor closely fitting the Sides of a surroundin casing, said casing rotating freely eccentrically to said rotor, but adjacent to the rotor at one point of its periphery, with means to remove and conduct away the excess liquid issuing from the revolving casing through i the journal on which the casing revolves, so as to act as a lubricant for said revolving casing, with means to prevent the said liquid from coming in contact with the revolving casing except at the hub of said casing.

C. JENNINGS. 

